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An Argentina woman’s mother believes her daughter is mentally unstable for wanting to marry the man convicted of killing her twin sister.

In 2010, prosecutors believe Victor Cingolani killing model Johana Casas, 22, and leaving her body in a field. He was convicted of her murder and sentenced to 13 years in jail.

Cingolani had dated Johana but the two were reportedly not involved in a relationship at the time of her death. Instead, he claims Edith Casas, Johana’s twin sister is the true love of his life.

Now, as Edith prepares to marry her sister’s killer, her mother has submitted a request for a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, postponing the wedding that was scheduled to occur on Saturday, December 22.

Other members of the family have stated they feel “a terrible betrayal” has occurred on the part of Edith.

Edith says that though Cingolani has been convicted of her sister’s murder he “would not hurt a fly.” Cingolani’s attorney claims a man named Marcos Diaz is Johana’s real killer.

Spanish firms offering luxury goods and services will end the year with total sales of 4.79 billion euros ($6.3 billion), up 15 percent over 2011.

Coming against a backdrop of recession, high unemployment and declining domestic consumption, most of the gain can be attributed to exports and spending by foreign tourists, according to Cristina Martin, CEO of the industry association Luxury Spain.

“Forty percent of Spanish firms’ turnover is due to international sales,” she said in an interview with Efe.

The culinary and beauty sectors together account for 60 percent of total spending on luxury products and services in the Iberian nation, while fashion - particularly jewelry and leather goods - is becoming increasingly important within the segment, she said.

Luxury Spain was founded in May 2011 to promote Spanish luxury goods and services both at home and abroad and to protect the images of leading brands.

Two weeks after undergoing his fourth cancer surgery in 18 months, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is walking, exercising and dealing with official matters, his vice president said.

Nicolas Maduro told state television that Chavez telephoned him from the Havana hospital where he is recuperating to issue a “set of work orders.”

The president also asked him to convey Christmas greetings to “all the people of Venezuela, especially the little boys and girls,” Maduro said.

It was the vice president’s first direct conversation with Chavez since the 58-year-old head of state’s Dec. 11 operation in the Cuban capital.

Most of their 20-minute phone call was devoted to government business, Maduro said, adding that Chavez has a “very clear agenda” for his next term, which starts in January.

Chavez is accompanied in Havana by his children and grandchildren and by Science and Technology Minister Jorge Arreaza, the vice president said.

“Very attentive to issues, a lot of spirit, a lot of humor, always a lot of strength,” Maduro said of the president.

Chavez, who took office in 1999, was re-elected in October for another six-year term.

He was first diagnosed with cancer after complaining of pain in his pelvic region during a June 2011 official visit to Cuba. Since then, the former paratrooper has undergone four surgical procedures and courses of chemotherapy and radiation

Check out Demi Lovato’s rendition of “Angels Among Us” that she has dedicated to the shooting victims in Newtown, Connecticut. The X-Factor lends her voice to this beautiful intrepretation and asked her fans to supports the Newtown victims by visiting the www.wearenewtown.org.

On Thursday, Carmella Martinez, 41, and her husband Paul G. Martinez, 43, both of Arroyo Seco, New Mexico, were arraigned on a 49-count federal indictment charging them with conspiracy, theft from programs receiving federal funds, and theft of government property. The defendants entered not guilty pleas during the arraignment hearing and were release pending trial under pretrial services supervision and other conditions.

The indictment alleges that, between November 2003 and December 2011, Carmella and Paul Martinez stole federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Taos County Housing Authority (TCHA) for a housing program that provides affordable housing for low-income Americans. During that time, Camilla Martinez was employed by the TCHA, initially as a financial specialist and later as its executive director.

HUD is a federal agency whose core mission is to make quality, affordable housing accessible to all Americans. It oversees and funds programs designed to provide affordable housing to low-income Americans, including the Housing Choice Voucher Program which is commonly referred to as “Section 8.” Through the Section 8 Program, HUD pays rent subsidies known as Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) to approved property owners and landlords on behalf of eligible low-income beneficiaries. According to the indictment, the TCHA administers the Section 8 Program on behalf of HUD in Taos County and receives approximately $2.8 million in funds annually from HUD.

The indictment alleges that, while employed by the TCHA, Carmella Martinez was responsible for processing HAP checks to approved Section 8 property owners and landlords and providing preliminary approval of requests for rent subsidies to property owners and landlords under the Section 8 Program. Carmella Martinez allegedly abused her position with TCHA by conspiring with her husband to engage in the theft of Section 8 housing funds. In stealing these monies, Carmella Martinez allegedly issued fraudulent HAP checks for Section 8 housing assistance to payees, including to Paul Martinez and to bank accounts held by her and Paul Martinez. Carmella and Paul Martinez would then present the fraudulent checks for payment at various locations.

Count one of the indictment charges Camilla and Paul Martinez with conspiracy. A conviction on that charge carries a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Counts two through five each charge the defendants with theft from programs receiving federal funds, and counts six through 49 each charge the defendants with theft of government property. A conviction on each of these 48 counts carries a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Charges in indictments are only accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

It’s all too easy to overindulge in food and drink at holiday parties, but there are things you can do to make sure you don’t stray too far off the path of good health, an expert says.

“In a party atmosphere, we often throw the rule book out the window and treat ourselves more than usual,” Lori Rosenthal, a dietitian at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, said in a center news release. “Even the most disciplined can let their guard down, filling up on food and drink and doing things that we later wish we hadn’t.”

She offered some tips for holiday party-goers.

Eating a healthy snack before you leave home will help limit how much high-calorie holiday food you eat at a party. Drinking water or other nonalcoholic beverages beforehand can also reduce your desire to eat and drink a lot at a party, Rosenthal said.

Check out the food options at a party before you dig in, and choose wisely. Use a smaller plate in order to keep you portion sizes down. Standing away from the food table will reduce your snacking.

Having a glass of water between each alcoholic drink will help limit the alcohol’s effect. Sip cocktails slowly. Keep track of how many drinks you have, or ask a friend to help you monitor your alcohol intake, Rosenthal suggested.

Drinking water the morning after a party can help a headache and also counteracts the high salt levels in party foods. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish or walnuts, have anti-inflammatory properties, and potassium-rich fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, kiwis and mangos, help replenish electrolytes.

If you decide to have a drink with electrolytes, choose a sugar-free one in order to avoid excess calories.

“Holiday festivities are all about having fun, but we also should make good decisions about our health,” Rosenthal said. “Everyone should include taking good care of their health as a 2013 New Year’s resolution. Following these tips should help get you on the right track.”

Named after the “Happy Days” character Pinky Tuscadero, Pinky the Chihuahua was born with just two hind legs.

Though most dogs born with such deformities are euthanized, Pinky’s owners Todd Ray and his wife Danielle decided to save her from that fate and adopted her.

Ray, the owner of the Venice Beach Freak Show in Los Angeles, says Pinky is not a part of his show, but believing all creatures are created for a reason, has made a living off of his record-holding collection of two-headed animals and says Pinky deserves a loving home just like any other animal.

Pinky may soon become a star however, as AMC’s upcoming reality TV show “Freakshow” will air footage of their time at Ray’s freak show. The series debuts on February 14.—‘cause nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day” like a two-headed snake.

2013 Feria Universitaria Expects 2,500 Latino High School Students - Focus is on College Financial Aid & Admissions

Latino high school students are invited to learn about college admissions and financial aid at Steps to College 2013 in Natomas, on Feb 2nd.

Steps to College 2013 is a higher education event presented in both Spanish and English, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento located at 2093 Arena Boulevard.

The event is organized by the following community and higher education partners: The California Student Aid Commission; Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento; Cien Amigos; Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California; Latino Policy Coalition; Dream Develop Do; College Board; Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; UC Davis; and, Sacramento State University.

The Consul General of Mexico in Sacramento, Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez said, “I appreciate the opportunity to host the 2nd annual “Steps To College” university fair. I would like to express my recognition to all the participating institutions for making a great effort while providing a valuable service to the Mexican, Mexican-American and Latino Community of Northern California.”

This year’s Feria Universitaria or University Fair is expected to attract 2,500 students from all throughout Northern California. There will be representatives from dozens of California colleges and universities providing information about their admission process.

The objectives of Steps to College 2013 are to:

- explain the full array of resources available for Latino students to finance their higher education,
- expose Latino families to the admissions process on Northern California higher education institutions,
- and assist Latino students in completing their student aid applications.

Student workshop topics will include Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA); Financial Aid; College and University Admissions; and Consular Affairs. Students will learn more about available scholarships and the Cal Grant program.

Students will have the opportunity to apply on-site for the California Dream Act financial aid. The new application launches on January 1, 2013. Visit www.csac.ca.gov for more detailed information on the Dream Act.

“The Latino community is still facing a higher education crisis – especially in this state. California has the highest population of Latinos in the nation and the largest gap between adults with degrees (Latinos 15.5 percent compared to Anglos 50 percent). Since a large contributing factor is the language barrier, Steps to College is a good first step to ensure Latino parents learn about the enrollment process and of the many programs and scholarships available to ensure members of their family earn a college degree,” concluded Jim Gonzalez , LPC Chair.

Steps to College 2012 attracted over 1,200 Latino high school students from over 40 different high schools. For more information and to register for the fair, please visit the Steps to College website at www.stepstocollege2013.org

Spain’s King Juan Carlos on Monday defended the idea of making austerity compatible with economic growth and emphasized that the country is “part of the solution to the global crisis.”

In his traditional televised Christmas address, which this year was broadcast for the first time on the Royal Household’s online channel on YouTube, the king devoted a large portion of his remarks to reflecting on the “serious economic crisis” Spain is experiencing.

After emphasizing that Spaniards are going through “one of the most difficult periods” in the country’s recent history, he said that “today’s sacrifices will guarantee tomorrow’s well-being in a reasonable period of time, such that the protection of social rights may be ensured.”

“The Crown is very much aware of the effort and the sacrifice that the citizens are making with fortitude; no effort in life is futile and the ones that are being made now will not be either,” the king, who urged Spaniards to respond to his words with a demonstration of confidence, said.

For the Spanish economy to grow again “we have to put our accounts in order and, at the same time, generate stimuli for the creation of wealth,” a point on which the king said that “the first stimulus that will get us out of this crisis is called confidence.”

Confidence in oneself will, in turn, generate the confidence of the financial markets in Spain with the conviction that, just like during the country’s transition to democracy after the Franco dictatorship, Spaniards will be able to overcome current difficulties if they act with “generosity, talent and creativity,” the king said.

“Spain is part of the solution to the global crisis and must be a protagonist in the decision making of the great international forums,” the monarch said.

He also said that Ibero-America “is a fundamental part of us, just as we are also (a fundamental part) of it.”

“The same goes for Europe. We have to keep working with the European Union to overcome the purely national visions and strengthen the bases of solidarity” with which the integration process is advanced, King Juan Carlos said.

Pope Benedict XVI urged people in his Christmas Message on Tuesday to not lose hope that there will be peace in the world, saying that the birth of Christ “is a flowering of new life for all humanity.”

The 85-year-old pontiff reviewed the situation in the world and called for an end to the violence in Syria and assistance for refugees.

The pope told the thousands of people who gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Urbi et Orbi - Latin for “To the City and to the World” - message that they must never lose hope.

“This human ability to be closed to God can make us fearful. But see the reality which chases away this gloomy thought, the hope that conquers fear: truth has sprung up! God is born!” the pope said.

Benedict XVI referred to “deeply wounded” Syria in his message and called for an end to the killing in the Middle Eastern country.

“Yes, may peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict which does not spare even the defenseless and reaps innocent victims. Once again I appeal for an end to the bloodshed, easier access for the relief of refugees and the displaced, and dialogue in the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict,” the pope said.

The pontiff also mentioned countries in Africa, especially Egypt, that have been rocked by political turmoil as they seek a better future.

“In the countries of North Africa, which are experiencing a major transition in pursuit of a new future - and especially the beloved land of Egypt, blessed by the childhood of Jesus - may citizens work together to build societies founded on justice and respect for the freedom and dignity of every person,” the pope said.

Pope Benedict XVI also called for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

“May peace spring up in the Land where the Redeemer was born, and may he grant Israelis and Palestinians courage to end long years of conflict and division, and to embark resolutely on the path of negotiation,” the pontiff said.

Benedict XVI extended his message of peace to Asia, Latin American and Africa.

“May every land become a good earth which receives and brings forth kindness and truth, justice and peace. Happy Christmas to all of you!” the pope said.